News Briefs

11/5/2012, Cheshvan 20, 5773

Hamas Denies Secret Talks with Israel

Hamas responded on Sunday to accusations that were directed at it by the Palestinian Authority, which claimed that Hamas had conducted secret contacts with Israel about the possibility of declaring a Palestinian state with provisional borders in exchange for a long-term truce.

Moussa Abu Marzouk, deputy leader of Hamas, said in this regard that Hamas "will not negotiate with the Zionist entity about a state with provisional borders," and added that, to his knowledge, “Hamas did not negotiate with Israel and will never agree to a state with provisional borders nor will it recognize Israel.”

Abu Marzouk further stated that accusing Hamas of holding secret negotiations with Israel cannot be an excuse for the statements made by PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Israeli television and which implied that he had given up on the “right of return.”